Scientists aim to develop drugs to eliminate pancreatic cancer

Researchers, including those from India, are aiming to develop drugs that will allow physicians to prolong patient survival and possibly, even eradicate the deadly pancreatic cancer by targeting specific proteins.

Houston: Researchers, including those from India, are aiming to develop drugs that will allow physicians to prolong patient survival and possibly, even eradicate the deadly pancreatic cancer by targeting specific proteins.

"Our research on the role of Liver X receptors (LXR), or LXRs, in pancreatic cancer cells points to a promising target and strategy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer," said cancer biologist Chin-Yo Lin, an assistant professor with the University of Houston Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS).

"Our findings point to a class of receptors that can be precisely targeted by drug compounds and are expected to stimulate both basic and translational research on their functions and application as a drug target," Lin said.

"Long-term goals are to develop additional drug compounds and clinical testing in human subjects, which will require several more years of research," Lin added.

A number of students participated in these studies, including PhD students Sridevi Addanki and Husna Karaboga Lakshmi Reddy Bollu.

Their research was funded by Golfers Against Cancer and a pilot study grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).